Manteca beats defending VOL champs

Michael Garibay plated the game’s first run in the opening inning of a Valley Oak League matchup of title contenders in Oakdale.

That was all the support Manteca pitcher Jacob Corn would need.

Dom Pisano went 3 for 3 and scored the other two runs for good measure as the Buffaloes knocked off defending champion Oakdale 3-0 Tuesday.

Corn outdueled Oakdale standout Bryce Dyrda in a matchup of future Pac-12 players. The Oregon-bound Corn struck out nine, walked three and hit two in a complete-game shutout. Dyrda, heading to USC, had just three strikeouts against five walks and was replaced after 6 2/3 innings.

Corn was also 2 for 2 with two walks from the plate. Dyrda accounted for two of Oakdale’s six hits. The Mustangs (6-1, 10-4 overall) claimed at least a share of the last seven VOL titles and is the three-time Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV champion.

“That was a well-played baseball game involving two very good teams,” Manteca coach Neil MacDannald said. “Jacob showed a lot of mental toughness in the game and pitched his tail off. One of our mottos is ‘be your best when it counts the most’ and Jake did that tonight.”

Dyrda was under pressure from the start, as Garibay walked and Pisano singled to lead off the game. Garibay eventually scored on a passed ball, while Lucas Vaughn drove in Pisano with a sacrifice fly.

Vaughn again sent Pisano home in the top of the seventh with a single to left.

“There are a lot of guys who contributed,” MacDannald said. “Our dugout was intense and a lot of guys work hard in practice preparing us for a team like Oakdale who loves to put pressure on you to play catch.

“I am very proud of how we played defense, too. We made plays when they were there to make.”

Manteca (5-0, 12-2) was able to work out of jams in the second and fourth innings when Oakdale had two batters reach with no out. In the sixth, Corn hit a batter to load the bases but ended the threat by forcing a popup to center field.

The Buffaloes will look to complete the series sweep Thursday at home. Manteca and Sierra are the two remaining undefeated teams in the VOL.

“Oakdale is the reigning champ and they will be ready Thursday,” MacDannald said. “We have to build on tonight’s effort and be better Thursday.”